Thermionic translating device



' following is a full, clear, concise, and

To all whom may concern:

t' (lisci-imno i;

e it known that ini, Germany, have invented certain new and useful improvements in lhermionic Translating evices (for which have died an application in Germany, L-il', ber 31, 1918, lDat.. No. 351,822) of which act description.

This invention relates to methods of ccnvert-ing or amplifying currents and potentials, or modulating carrierwaves in accordance with signals; and to apparatus for carrying out such methods. ln one form of embodiment of the invention. two vacuum tubes each provided with a grid, which grids are excited in opposite phases, is made use of for stepping up or down the current or potential of a direct or alternating current. Similar apparatus is applied for the purpose .of producing high frequency waves modulated in accordance with speech or other alternating or fluctuating currents. lt is within the scope of the invention to transform electrical currents in any manner into other currents by means of apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawing or etpiivalentI apparatus,

The invention comprises improvements upon the disclosure of S. patent to Langmuir. No. 1,273,626, patented July 1918, which describes apparatus serving 'to convert direct current into current of other potential by the alternate charge and discharge of a device for storing of energy. This invention is an extension of that principle and modifies the apparatus so that the auxiliary energy necessary for the conversion is generated and applied in a special way, 'The apparatus is more useful in that it can be used not only for a converting rectifier, but also for changing an alternating current to an alternating current of another potential.

One object of the invention is to rprovide an arrangement whereby direct current of one voltage may be stepped up in voltage to direct current of a higher voltage. A further object of the invention is to provide a voltage-transforming arrangement for direct current in which the energy of increased voltage may vary in accordance with a signal or other control energy.

transformer, if desired.

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to the drawing` Fig. 1 is a diain showing the general system, while 2 shows an embodiment thereof.

paratus constituting the invention i Fig. 1 applied to direct cur transformation. 1 and 2 are the lines oi network between which are connected a vacuum tube 3 with cathode d, grid 5, and anode 5 in series with the primary winding of the transformer. The secondary winding 8 of the transformer which 1possesses greater or less number of turns according to whether a step-up or step-down transformation of the potential or the current is desired, can be connected with one terminal with the line 2, so as to constitute an autolt is preferred, however, to use a two-winding transformer with no other connections than a common lead between the cathodes of the vacuum tubes. lt is likewise connected to a storage condenser 13 and the output line through'a vacuum tube 9 with anode 10, grid 11 and cathode 12 (in some cases a heated filamentary electron emitting-cathode). Grids 5 and 11 are now arranged so that they have opposite phases. rll`his is done rnost simply by means of a coil 14e, one point of which is properly selected, and is connected with the two cathodes 4f and 12 respectively, and its terminals connected to the grids 5 and 11, in order to determine the potential of the grids 5 and 11 compared to the two eathodes e and 12. The high-frequency oscillations of a known type ot.' system for the generation of elect-ric oscillations comprising vacuum tube 16, anode circuit 17, and grid circuit 18, with glowing cathode 19, is now brought to bear by inductive coupling on coil 14. This oscillation generator may be of any well known type and is illustrated as a type having tuned grid and plate circuits 17 and 18,

By means of the above described arrangement, the use of any auxiliary energy, either in the forni of alternating or direct current connected by a switching device, is wholly eliminated. The apparatus operates automatically. It will be connected with the lines 1 and 2 to the terminals of the source of current which is connected to be transformed and will supply the desired converted current directly to the work circuit.

If a heated cathode is used, it can be connected in series with or parallel to the line 1,

` connected l@ VCllllm i for chang` tu le the current' or potent t, it will he i' lo or tube in Way 1liuctua n, or potential occur on the output line which very Lgreatly increased and are entirely n synchronisin. la this case it is best te select condenser i3 as small as possible it entirely. ln place of the ivcrir circuit, a telephone receiver can be connected for reception or the amplified energy' or the grid circuit of the transmitting tube can be connected at this place for the purpose of 'Wireless telephony, or the increased potential for uctuations can be made to aect the transmitter in any Way Whatever. is Well irnovvn that one of the main diiiiculties in modulating the generators at continuous Wave stations by micro`- phone currents consists in the fact that the Voltage amplitudes directly produced by the microphone are too small in comparison with the high frequency potentials to energetically influence the amplitude of the continuous Waves.

In Fig. 2 a Wireless telephone circuit using the apparatus according to Fig. l is illus trated in detail. This circuit is intended to be used for radiating carrier waves modulated in accordance with speech Waves.

The vacuum tube 3 and the primary` Winding 7 of the transformer are in this case alsoconnected to the network lines l and 2,

While the secondary Winding 8 is connected through the vacuum tube 9 to the grid 20 of a `high frequency oscillation generator transmittel 21 for producing continuous modulated oscillations. 22 is a fixed condenser which is shunted through a high ohmic or inductive resistance 23, and is connected in series in the grid circuit 24 which controls the anode circuit of tube 21 connected with` the antenna. 25 is the source of the anode current of the transmitter which can be replaced by an apparatus like that in Fig. l. The microphone current 26 acts directly on coil lll, but it could also be arranged as in Fig. l, thereby avoiding the necessity of any other source, such as a local source.

Having described certain practical embodiments of the invention, the novel features thereof are defined in the appended.

claims.

lNhat is claimed is:

l. ln combination, a source of direct current, a variableimpedance element in circuit therewith, a second circuit inductively to said rst-mentioned circuit whereby variations in the current owing in seid first circuit electroni tive forces in said second circuit, and connected to said variable nent and to said circu f taneously controlling the impeda-nces oi s.. two circuits.

f2. A series circuit including a source direct current and a three-element elec discharge device having an anode and cat ode by which said device is connectedl said circuit and an impedance control ele-- nient, a second circuit inductively related to. said first circuit and including a second electric discharge device having a cathode and anode by which it is connected serially in said second circuit anda control element, and common means for controlling the potentials of said control elements relative to their respective associated cathodes. v

' 3. ln combination, a source oi direct current, a transformer primary Winding and a space discharge path in series therewith, a transformer secondary Winding inductively coupled to said primary winding, a second space discharge path in series With said secondary Winding and means for simultaneously controlling the impedances of both of said discharge paths in accordance with ignals.`

li. In combination, a source of alternating current, means for variably rectifying said alternating current in accordance with signals to produce a unidirectional electrometive force Varying in accordance With said signals, a vacuum tube oscillator having an impedance control circuit and means for impressing said unidirectional electromotire force thereupon to control the amplitude of the oscillations produced by said oscillator.

5. In combination, a vacuum tube oscillator having an input circuit and an output circuit, a source of direct. current, a transformer primary Winding and a space discharge path in series therewith, a transformer secondary Winding inductively cou* pled to said primary Winding and connected in series through a second space discharge path to the input circuit of said oscillator, and means for simultaneously controlling the impedance of both of said discharge paths in accordance with signals.

6. A vacuum tube oscillator having an input circuit and an output circuit, a source of alternating current, means for Variably rectifying said alternating current in accordance with signals to produce a signal varied unidirectional electromotive force and means for impressing said unidirectional clectromotive force upon the input circuit of said oscillator. I

ln Witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this ninth day of February A. D., 199.1.

Dn. SlllGliiUNl LE'WE. 

